NHS Connecting for Health has announced that EMIS’s LV system has achieved full roll out approval for the Summary Care Record, which the agency has described as major breakthrough for the programme.
It said EMIS LV is used by about 45% of GP practices in England and the SCR implementation team would now begin working with those primary care trusts using the system.
James Hawkins, SCR programme director, said: “This milestone provides a catalyst for a significant shift in place and momentum in the rollout of SCR nationally for those NHS trusts implementing SCRs through EMIS LV.
"The news is also good for patients. It has been a long time coming but we can get on with the job of rolling out.”
The programme has been frustrated by the time taken by EMIS to become compliant with the SCR.
Healthcare IT system supplier Synergy system was the first GP system to achieve approval for national roll-out, followed by TPP’s SystmOne earlier this year. CfH said INPS’s Vision system has achieved limited roll-out approval so far.
Lea Taylor, the SCR EMIS Release Manager, said approval for EMIS LV followed the first successful uploading of SCRs at an EMIS practice earlier this summer. This happened at West Heath Surgery in South Birmingham.
He added: “We’ve been monitoring our first of type sites and everyone is now fully satisfied we can move on and fully link into the roll out of SCRs across England.”
The first three PCTs that will go live with EMIS LV will be South Birmingham, Dorset and Somerset.
SCR Clinical Director Gillian Braunold said: "I am delighted that EMIS LV is now available to be implemented nationally. This will enable proper planning for SCR roll out as we now are technically able to create an SCR for the majority of the population."
CfH said 360,000 SCRs had so far been created by systems from iSoft, TPP, INPS as well as EMIS.